THIRD QUARTER 2022
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #9
AUGUST 27, 2022
“A LIFE OF PRAISE”

 

 

When the Jewish captives were by the rivers of Babylon, they were asked by their captors to sing the songs of Zion (Psalm 137:1–4). But their response was “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”

 

A pastor who had been maligned was deeply wounded and distressed. While alone one day, with negative emotions exploding in his mind, the thought came to him: “Praise God.” And so, he did. He said that he felt like an idiot, or some such, but the exercise of praise lifted him out of his deep depression.

 

Another person told me that his wife ridiculed him because of his belief in God, but relief came to him when he sang hymns.

 

When you are discouraged, even desponded, why not sing or read some of the hymns or songs of praise in the Hymnal. This is a work of faith. And remember “the just shall live by faith”; not feelings.
 

Our lesson this week highlights two major themes brought out in the teacher’s quarterly, page 119: “1. Joy and praise are rooted in our deep and meaningful relationship with God, as part of our life, as a lifestyle. 2. Christian joy and praise are not only beneficial to our health and to overcoming crucibles but also are used by God in saving others.”
 

I will illustrate these by two biblical examples. One is that of Paul and Silas while in prison after being beaten and bruised. With their feet in stocks and with bleeding backs they broke into singing. God answered with an earthquake and with angels sent to unshackle, not only these two, but every prisoner in that jail. The jailor was sure the prisoners escaped and he knew that his life would be taken by the Roman government because of it. So, he decided to end his life by himself. As he was about to do so Paul preached the good news of the gospel to him, reminding him that every captive was accounted for. As a consequence of Paul’s testimony and the mighty power of God, the jailer and his family were converted and baptized into the family of God. It was Paul and Silas singing praises to God, while suffering pain, working for the salvation of people while in prison.

The second example is from E. J. Waggoner as he related the experience of King Jehoshaphat and the children of Judah in an extremely emotional time of trial when music, praise and faith gave them the victory in battle.

Music is a powerful motivation both for good as well as for evil. Military forces use music for motivation and morale. It was also used in Bible times. The example is found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-26. E. J. Waggoner wrote concerning it, and its application to us, in Christ and His Righteousness in the section titled “The Victory of Faith,” beginning on page 78:

“The Bible says that ‘the just shall live by faith.’ The righteousness of God is ‘revealed from faith to faith.’ Romans 1:17. Nothing can better illustrate the working of faith than some of the examples that are recorded for our learning, ‘that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.’ Romans 15:4. We will take, first, a notable event recorded in the twentieth chapter of 2 Chronicles. Let the reader follow the running comment with his Bible.”

After discussing the fear of the people, and after much prayer with fasting, the Chronicle records that Judah sought the Lord because a coalition of hostile armies came against them. God answered their prayers by a noncanonical prophet in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Waggoner: “And then came the command to go forth in the morning to meet the enemy, and they should see the salvation of the Lord, for He would be with them. Now comes the most important part: ‘And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever.’ Verses 20, 21.” Ibid., 80-81.

Can you imagine a choir sent out as the advance guard and cutting edge of the army were bearing their war weapons. What was the result?

“When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch-tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.” Verses 22- 24.

Waggoner: “The point which should be specially noticed is that it was when Israel began to sing and to praise that the Lord set ambushments against the enemy. What does that signify? It signifies that their faith was real. The promise of God was considered as good as the actual accomplishment. So, they believed in the Lord, or, more literally, they built upon the Lord, and thus they were established, or built up. Thus, they proved the truth of the words, ‘This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’ 1 John 5:4.” Ibid., 82.

The application: “Let us now apply this illustration in a case of conflict against sin. Here comes a strong temptation to do a thing known to be wrong. We have often proved to our sorrow the strength of the temptation, because it has vanquished us, so that we know that we have no might against it. But now our eyes are upon the Lord, Who has told us to come with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. So, we begin to pray to God for help. And we pray to the God that is revealed to us in the Bible as the Creator of heaven and earth. We begin, not with a mournful statement of our weakness, but with a joyful acknowledgment of God's mighty power. That being settled, we can venture to state our difficulty and our weakness. If we state our weakness first and our discouraging situation, we are placing ourselves before God. In that case Satan will magnify the difficulty and throw his darkness around us so that we can see nothing else but our weakness, and so, although our cries and pleading may be fervent and agonizing, they will be in vain, because they will lack the essential element of believing that God is and that He is all that He has revealed Himself to be. But when we start with a recognition of God's power, then we can safely state our weakness, for then we are simply placing our weakness by the side of His power, and the contrast tends to beget courage.” Ibid., 83.

“God can speak of those things that are not as though they were. That is, if God gives a promise, it is as good as fulfilled already. And so, knowing that our deliverance from evil is according to the will of God (Galatians 1:4), we count the victory as already ours and begin to thank God for His ‘exceeding great and precious promises….’

“As our faith grasps these promises and makes them real, we cannot help praising God for His wonderful love, and while we are doing this, our minds are wholly taken from evil and the victory is ours. The Lord Jesus sets ambushments against the enemy. Our ascription of praise shows to Satan that we have obtained reinforcements, and as he has tested the power of the help that is granted to us, he knows that he can do nothing on that occasion, and so he leaves us. This illustrates the force of the apostle's injunction: 

"Be careful for nothing [that is, do not worry about anything]; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6.  Ibid., 84-85.

In choosing to live by faith, joy will come and we may say with David, “as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joy­fully sing of Your lovingkindness every morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress (Psalm 59:16).”

 

~Pastor Jerry Finneman